Sailing Team Logbook 2001

7/23/01- BARNSTABLE Cape Cod Times. Two Harwich seniors have been named to the Cape Cod Times Cape & Islands All-Star Sailing Team. Tommy Leach and Jaime Scarbrough have have had remarkable season which included 2nd Place at the States; 1st Place at the Cape & Islands Invitational and 1st Place at Figawi. The team racing record was 11-5. Both young men have continued their winning ways this July with Jaime scoring 3rd in the Nash Cup (SMSA jr.doublehanded in 420's) and Tommy making runner-up for the Cummings Cup (SMSA jr.triple handed in Flying Scots).

6/03/01 - PLEASANT BAY - Harwich Wins Cape & Islands Invitational Championship Regatta.Two Harwich junior skippers lead their team to win the 3rd Annual Cape & Island Invitational Sailing Championship yesterday on Pleasant Bay. James Scarbrough and crew Scott Penfield led off the morning with bullets in three of five races in A Division while Tom Leach with Shawna O'Loughlin recovered from a breakdown position to get their boat moving again in 15 to 20 knot southwesterly off the Chatham YC.Strong scoring of Mike Villa/Giulia Fleishman , Cal Monast/Warren Carelli and Ben Hannigan/Kate Colley sailing for the Vineyard scoring 2-2-3-1-1-3-4-5 and 1-2-5-4-4-2-2-4-1 in the two divisions was not enough to take the Rough Riders afternoon scores when the wind freshened and Chatham fog descended on the course. After lunch Penfield took O'Loughlin's place for Harwich and Neal Donovan hopped in Scarbrough's boat. Harwich winning finishes in nine heats were 1-1-1-2-2-2-1-1-1 for Scarbrough and 4-3-1-2-1-1-1-1-2 for Leach. Nauset High sailors Peter Schwebach/Heather Nickerson, Mike Falcone/ Ben Peno, Adam Schwebach/Hannah Conley were good enough to hold off Nantucket High's Jeremy Anderson/Alex Flemings and Mary Lentowski/Alex Forden. Chatham skipper and crew were: Ryan Torres/Sean Cahoon, Nate Riley/Evelyn Nickerson, Drew Dunne/Scott Brown and Andrew McMahon/Patrick Bowen. Sailing for Sandwich was Peter Creedon/Nick Christini, Wallice Barton/Kate Lassiter and Matt Bourque/Ben Deptula. Final results and scores in order were: Harwich (28), Martha's Vineyard (48), Nauset (50), Nantucket (61), Chatham (84), Sandwich (93).

5/31/01 - PLEASANT BAY - Only two sides of a three-way competition at the Chatham Yacht Club were possible yesterday. Harwich swept Nantucket in three straight races on Pleasant Bay. Harwich went 1,2,4; 1,2,5 and a huge final recovery race as Tom Leach/James Adams initiated covering manuevers from ahead to spring James Scarbrough/Gina Legge. Then the two Junior skippers together controlled Nantucket boats to leverage Scott Penfield/Neal Donovan, who had capsized their boat, from dead last to fourth place for a 2,3,4 win. After that Chatham High sailors climbed into the 420's to race Nantucket in a much closer race. The Whalers went home victorious edging the Bluedevils 3-2. The Cape & Islands Invitational High School Fleet Race has been moved to Sunday beginning at 9:30 AM at the Chatham Yacht Club at Eastward-Ho!

5/29/01 - Coaches challenge race today ends in tie. Coach John Dickson/Bridget, Coach Leach/Shawna and 505 dad Dave Penfield/Scott took on the sailing team skippers Tommy/Gina, Jammie/Bryan, Neal/Jim. Talk about tight racing! First race was won by the team 2,3,4 after a huge port starboard at the pin with Coach Dickson trying to stick his nose in on port tack against three starboard tackers, no room, crash. Next race, Coach Leach/Shawna go across the grain and wind up first at weather mark followed by John/Bridget tying up the race with a 1,2,5; next race gets won by the team again with a 1,3,6; then the coaches force a tie after huge train wreck caused by Coach Leach on port tack becomes an obstruction, coaches tie with unstable 1,3,6. Thank you to Chatham Coach Greg Kelly for starts and allowing us to disrupt the Chatham practice line.

5/27/01 - NANTUCKET - Harwich takes 1st Place at FIGAWI. The Rough Rider sent it's hand picked crew to the 2001 Figawi Invitational High School Regatta in 420's at Nantucket Island. Tom Leach and Jaime Scarbrough split skipper and crewing tasks and make a clean sweep of the seven boat fleet. Jaime's scores 2-1-1 and Tommy's scores were 2-1-1-1. Last year the duo came in second place behind Belmont Hill but swore to make it into first this year. No problem! The two sailors are now sporting the red traditional Figawi fleece.

5/25/01 - CAMBRIDGE - Harwich Sailors Take Second Place at State Championship. Harwich High sailors have put their town on the chart with an outstanding second place finish at the Massachusetts High School Championship at MIT. The event open to all secondary schools is sponsored by MIT Sailing and is sailed in Tech dinghies on the Charles River. After Thursdays racing, the team was ahead of BC High Prep and a pack of eighteen schools by one point with solid top finishes, including three seconds and two firsts. On Friday, Tom Leach, Jamie Scarbrough and their crew Gina Legge and Scott Penfield put in another top performance and boosted the Rough Riders lead to 53, four points ahead of the Eagles. However, protests filed in the last two heats against Harwich by crafty BC High led to a DSQ of Leach's boat when a headstay cleat parted and lost control and contact with another boat. The Rough Riders must have felt like someone was gunning for them. A second interference penalty developed due to a mark rounding issue that clearly happened before the two boat length circle, but the protest committee was not convinced. Harwich was relegated to a second place trophy 5 points up on Notre Dame. Fourth and fifth went to Marblehead High (96) and Saint Sebastian's (101). The Rough Riders placed 8th last year, and 5th in 1999. Tom described the protest this way: "Harwich ended up coming in second due to getting DSQed in the last two races. BC protested me at the start of the 7th race. I won the start, I tacked onto port to port tack the rest of the fleet, get clear, then due my circles, but the headstay broke not more then 5boatlengths from the line and I had to file for breakdown points. BC still protested me and the RC threw me out because they said I did not do my circles at the proper time and said that I should have luffed my sails, let the whole fleet pass me, then do my circles- go figure?, but I'm going to appeal the decision 'cause its total bull. I protested the girl who got first in the last race and won, but BC and I were protested by St. John's. both of them told the same story which I didn't agree with, and my witness- St. Sebs- had to leave to get to a prom. The race committee threw me out but not BC. St. Johns had nothing to gain in the protest, other than ruining Harwichs chances-conspiracy maybe?.Nah, but I'm upset because without those 2 unfair protests I would have won B division with 22pts and Harwich would have won the Champs, but ended up instead with 58pts. 2nd is a good finish, but it hurts because we know we could have won it.Next year its all over!"

5/24/01 - CAMBRIDGE - Harwich powered into first place at MIT Fleet Racing Championship with solid scores from both Jamie/Scott of 2-4-1-2 and Tommy/Scott of 5-2-3-1. Going to the last race Leach had tied–up the lead for Harwich with BC High Prep at 19 points. In the last race, Tom and Gina drove their boat hard and hit all the shifts perfectly to recover from seventh position on the course edging out BC High’s Matt Sexton at the finish line giving Harwich the first day lead. Marblehead High is in third with 35 points. 19 schools are in the event. Coach Dickson will reschedule the three-way on Pleasant Bay canceled due to the threat of a thunderstorm.

5/23/01 - Harwich 3, Nauset 0
ORLEANS - Sailing on a shifty easterly breeze at Town Cove the Harwich Rough Riders gave Nauset Varsity Sailing its second defeat on the season. The Harwich sailors lead by Tom Leach and crew Gina Legge went 1,2,6; 1,2,6 and 1,2,5 to cinch their victory over the Warriors. Harwich is now 10-5 and Nauset is 5-2. Harwich will sail a three-way against Chatham and Nantucket tomorrow on Pleasant Bay and at the same time send Leach, Legge and James Scarbrough with Scott Penfield crewing to the Massachusetts Fleet Racing Championship at MIT.

5/22/01 - Race canceled at Buzzards Bay YC due to nasty Northeaster and intermittent downpours.

5/21/01 - Practice today with 4 boats. Tommy/Scott, Shawna/Julia, Jamie/Gina, Neal/Bryan. Good tight team 2 on 2 and fleet racing. We are prepared for a busy week of racing through Saturday including sending 4 to the State Fleet Racing Championship at MIT Thursday and Friday in Tech Dinghies.

5/16/01 - Dartmouth 3 Harwich 1
PLEASANT BAY - The Harwich Sailing team losts its rematch against Dartmouth High but went down fighting. After a favorable start in the first race Harwich lost position at the first mark to lose 2,3,6. The Harwich juniors rallied to win the second race 1,2,6. All evened up the Rough Riders began to come apart against the well groomed team from Aponagansett Bay, coached by Warren Hathaway, losing the next two. Harwich is now 9-5.

5/10/01 - Harwich 3, Nauset 0
PLEASANT BAY - The Rough Riders stampeded Nauset this afternoon in a 3-0 blanking. Very light easterly proved Harwich has strength in light air as we ghosted to solid 1,2,3 finishes after a first 1,2,4 giving Nauset its first defeat. Harwich is now 8-4.

5/9/01 - Falmouth 3, Harwich 0
PLEASANT BAY - Harwich lost a match they could have controled to the Falmouth Clippers here today. In a shifty southeasterly breeze, early on Jamie and Neal had a tough time in getting off the line with speed and recoveries on the course were difficult as both teams through roadblocks to attempt to slow down the racing. This was probably the most aggressive and vociferous team we've raced against, and they were in the mood. The finishes after the first race blow-out were all close, yet the Rough Riders never got on the advantaged side. This is more than a disappointment for our team because it marks a lost opportunity to make the nationals by resume. Those State rankings have Dartmouth 5th, Falmouth 10th, Barnstable 12th. We should be ranked about 9th or tenth in the State, however, Coach Dickson said our application was received after a deadline unfortunately.

5/8/01 - Good practice with Tom/Julia, Bryan/Jim, Jamie/Jillian, Neal/Scott teaming. We worked several fleet starts and two triangles, then 2 on 2's (last boat losing) this really made for intesting traps and blocks. Team looked very sharp in the 12 knots and the coachiing staff is very pleased particularly with spunky Julia's improvements to become a solid crew working well with Tom executing good quick roll tacks and tight 360's. By the end the two showed blazing boat speed. I guess we are ready for Falmouth tomorrow on Pleasant Bay. After school sailing practice ended on time so Bryan, Tommy and Coach Leach made it over to CG beach to catch a lowtide set of waves. Even sailors need a surfing break once in a while! Where was Scott??

5/7/01 - Back on the water with a three boat practice as some of the team when off to visit the zoo. Yep! Jillian sailed with Tom, Shanna with Jamie, and Scott with Neal. We practiced starting tactics particularly stalling and maintaining the head to wind position before the start. this requires some creative skulling to hold the boat without flopping down on the leward boat. hafter about five practice starts and one or two "pig in the middles" we did a couple team races to the weather mark then sailed backwards,yes, to the finish line. Tommy with Scot really showed how to get the boat moving by keeping the stern chine clear of the water. Gorgeous afternoon a nice break before a late town meeting tonight all will attend as government assignment.

5/3/01 - Harwich 3, Nantucket 0
NANTUCKET HARBOR - From the start the rebuilding Whalers were no match for any combination within the Harwich sailing squad. The starts saw the Rough Riders shot out the front going in tight pack around the course with the Nantucket boats trailing. As the SW wind built to above 12 knots and the water became choppy the Riders changed their program and the entire team rotated through 5 races. The team enjoyed their afternoon on Island; enjoyed the Fast Ferry and enjoyed Nick Jusdon's hospitality. He's a great coach with a young and upcoming team.

5/2/01 - Harwich 2, Falmouth 1; Barnstable 2 (protest), Harwich 1
LEWIS BAY - A double header, Harwich sailors seemingly outsailed their opponents this afternoon. The first race of a round-robbin series was light air. Tommy/ Leach/Jesse Mongeau, Jaime Scarbrough/Shawna Mongeau (with 8 stitches on her forehead), Neal Donovan/Gina Legge moved themselves from 2,3,6 at the weather mark to a winning tight 2,3,4. Our next race with the breeze up and Scott Penfield in with Tom was a would be win against Barnstable with our finishes 1,3,6 (we lost on a protest). The next race we lost to Falmouth 2,4,5, then we beat Falmouth for that win 1,2,5; Then Barnstable held us to a 3,4,6. The last race we beat the Red Raiders 1,2,6. We sail to Nantucket tommorow with another hot 75-80° F fair weather day predicted to take on the Whalers. In other news the team has taken the Mark Trophy at Tabor and the Down East Regatta out of its schedule due to what else: The Junior Prom. Its seems nearly the entire team will be donning tuxedos and evening gowns fo the big evening.

5/1/01 - Another nice practice day on Pleasant Bay in Light air with all team onboard except Scott and Bryan who were off visiting colleges in Vermont and New Hampshire. Practice cut short when Shawna sailing with Jesse, managed to get beaned in the forehead by the boom opening up a nice gash. Coach Dickson rushed her back in by motorboat and Mom Kelley drove her to the hospital for stitches! Ouch. Tomorrow we board the bus for Hyannis to compete against Barnstable and Falmouth, both very strong.

4/30/01 - Light air practice today on a balmy Pleasant Bay. Tom/Jim, Scott/Bryan, Jaime/Shawna. The slow sailing gave a chance for special attention to mark traps, rights at the two boat length circle and passbacks. Tommy with Scott demonstrated how a "dry" capsize can be fast. Tom quickly hopped over the side onto the centerboard and as she began to right, he actually got a big pump from the sail and squirted ahead of the others.

4/26/01 - Harwich 3, Bishop Stang 0
PLEASANT BAY - Harwich beat Bishop Stang three straight in 15 knot winds yesterday at Chatham Yacht Club at Eastward-Ho. The Rough Riders got off to a flying start with crews of Tom Leach/James Adams, Neal Donovan/Scot Penfield and Jamie Scarbrough/Bryan Knowles going 1,2,4. The second heat showed the three boats going 1,2,3. Stang's team of Vin Voci/Devon Gaudet made a valid showing but could not spring their sailmates. The third heat was tense with mark traps set by both teams but strong windward sailing at the end placed Harwich 1,2,4. Shawna O'Loughlin, Gina Legge, and Julia Szendrei changed out crews to win the last two heats 1,3,5 and 1,2,5. Harwich is now 5-2 on the season and will race against both Barnstable and Falmouth at Hyannnis Yacht Club on Wednesday May 2nd.

4/25/01 - Tabor 3, Harwich 0
MARION HARBOR - What team captain Tom Leach called an advantage due to local knowledge, the Rough Riders were off to a late start, building momentum against an experienced Tabor team led by Ben Sampson. Our three boats were "out-started" in the first race beating back to 3,4,5. In the second race a poor late recall from the committee "sunk" Tom in Sail #4 over early (they hailed the wrong sail number, hailing #14 instead. There was no 14!). Losing almost a minute he beat back to 2,4,5. Our best bid was in the last race with Tom/Jesse port tacking the fleet at the start and Jaime Scarbrough/Shawna in second. As this critical race proceeded Jaime was over taken by a Tabor boat and Neal Donovan/Gina not having a good day failed to get sprung as Tom/Jesse continued to sit on the competition. We dropped from an unstable 1,2,6 to a 2,3,6 as Sampson craftly got his boat into an overlap at the leeward mark before the two boat length circle. The whole day was somewhat disappointing for the team as we really felt we were finding a groove but late and the race committee should have restarted the second race, reset the lopsided starboard favored course and done some on-the-water judging from the RC boat. Go Seawolves!

4/23/01 - Team back on the water for a Sunny afternoon practice with Spring conditions finally. Dry suits are coming off! Captains Jaime and Tommy broke the squad into teams. After some practice starts and windward leeward fleet races we developed coverage practice by team alining sailing five boats in order to the leeward mark and then boats 1,3,5 trying to break cover upwind to become 1,2,3. After a few trys at this, we turned the course around proper and fleet raced to the weather mark, then as boats rounded 1-5 orderd the 1,3,5 boats to strategize to break through the 2,4 boats. Neat practice when you have a lopsided number to work with. Coach Leach presented team shirts after practice. Julia overcome by anxiety to be the first swimmer of the new year, stripped off her drysuit and plunged into cold Pleasant Bay off the yacht club and swam for a full minute in the 45° water. She said it was refreshing. Go Julia! Coach Leach gave out the new Navy blue team shirts with gold thread "Harwich Sailing Team" on the left breast. Very sharp!

4/21/01 - Our sailing team will regroup this week and develop a new strategy to get the team into qualifying position by resume after hopes were dashed in first round competition at the O'Day Qualifiers at NRYC today. Pulling a tough draw Jamie Scarbrough and Neal Donovan skippered the A-B fleet race event coming in 5th out of nine schools. The qualifiers sent the top four schools: Choate, Tabor, Darmouth and MV to the finals at Bristol YC on Sunday in which Harwich had planned to send skippers Jaime and Tom Leach (returning from North Carolina). All was not to be and our chances of doing well would have been possible as we read in the Cape Cod Times our rival Barnstable, qualifying from another tier, came in 10th out of fifteen New England public and private schools competing in the final.The Rough Riders sail against Tabor Academy on Wednesday at Pleasant Bay.

4/11/01 - Dartmouth 3, Harwich 2
The sailing team lost in a tie-breaking match to Dartmouth High yesterday at the New Bedford Yacht Club. Co-captain skippers Tom Leach and Jaime Scarbrough started the Rough Riders on a two-nothing lead. Then Dartmouth won the next two starts and held off our 420 sailors to tie the match at 2-2. Dartmouth broke the tie winning in the fifth, taking away Harwich's undefeated status. Sailing for Harwich wereTom Leach/Gina Legge, Jaime Scarbrough/Shawna O'loughlin, Neal Donovan/Jesse Mongeau. Skippers Jaime Scarbrough and Neal Donovan will represent Harwich at the O'Day Qualifiers on Pleasant Bay on the last Saturday of school vacation week. This will determine whether we gain a slot for our racing team at the O'Day New Englands at US Coast Guard Academy, New London the next day.

4/10/01 - Harwich 3, Sandwich 0
PLEASANT BAY - Sandwich became no match for Harwich as crews of Neal/Scott, Jamie/Bryan,Tommy/Gina went 1,2,3; Jamie/Shawna, Tommy/Jim, Neal/Jessie went 1,2,3; Shawna/Jaime, Neal/Jesse; Bryan/Tommy went 1,2,3. Tommy controling pin as Jaime commanded committee boat end and Neal in the middle. Winds were 12 knots out of the northeast. Harwich takes on Dartmouth tomorrow at NBYC.

4/9/01 - John really had the team heated up in a light air practice. Crews of Tom/Gina, Jim/Jill, Neal/Bridget, Scott/Bryan, Shawna/Julia worked on formation sailing. One whistle - tack; two whistles - stop; three whistles - jibe. Five whistles - turn around and do the same thing downwind. Sail tip: in light air if the vang isn't just snug the top batten will not "pop through" after the jibe. Team is ready for Sandwich tomorrow and coach Dickson plans dinner at his house after the race. The shirt order is in should have by April 18th.

4/5/01 - Harwich 3, Bishop Stang 0
APPONAGANSET BAY - Harwich raised its record to 3-0 beating Bishop Stang in straight sets in the team racing contest. Harwich crews Tom Leach/Gina Legge, Jaime Scarbrough/Shawna O'Loughlin and Neal Donovan/Scott Penfield controled Bishop (1-2-3,1-2-5,1-2-6,2-3-5) in 10 kts of breeze in the SE. Attention to an adverse current critical to gaining the starting line and hitting laylines too early. Also lightening the vang in the moderate air, tensioning the jib halyard, and carrying enough outhaul. We are getting better at not covering our teamates and understanding the importance of gaining ground from the rear as important as carrying a lead at the top. Shawna O'Loughlin showed this, remarkably gaining one important boat in the last race. That one spot from the rear gave us the race in that heat. "Never give up"

4/4/01 - Harwich 3, M.Vineyard 1
PLEASANT BAY - Harwich sailed to 3-1 win over Martha's Vineyard yesterday, winning the first two races to improve to 2-0. MV is now 0-2 (losing their first match in a tie-breaker to Dartmouth), The skippers and crews for Harwich boats were: Jamie Scarbrough/Shawna O'Loughlin; Tom Leach/Jesse Mongeau; and Neal Donovan/Gina Legge. MV's teams consisted of: Mike Villa/Giulia Fleishman; Ben Hannigan/Kate Colley; and Cal Monast/Warren Carelli. Harwich finished first, second and sixth in the first race and first second and fourth in the second race. Martha's Vineyard cut it to 2-1, finishing first, third and sixth in the third race. Harwich clinched it in the fourth race, finishing first, third and fourth. Harwich has groomed an incredibly unselfish team as all three skippers leveraged their teammates throughout the race with organized starts, traps and passbacks in a light easterly. Thursday Harwich sails against Bishop Stang at New Bedford YC.

4/3/01 - Great practice today as we divided the entire squad into two complete teams and scrimaged. Teams of Tom/Julia, Jaime/Jim, Shawna/Gina vs. Neal/Jesse, Scott/Bryan, Coach Dickson/Jillian. We had a steady NE breeze at 7 knots gusting to 15 knots. Planing conditions. After several practice starts the teams came off on an even start Blue-team finish 1-2-5; second heat went to Gold-team 1-3-6; Blue-team won the grudge match 1-2-5 with Tommy laying a perfectly executed "passback" (tight cover) over Neal in the last leg springing Jamie from behind. All very close racing at all marks! We finished off day with Coach Dickson, proving flat is fast, taking the high road out into the 35°F breeze of the Bay beating Tommy to the weather mark followed by Neal, Shawna and Scott. Jaime retired with a broken tiller. Team looks good for team race against Martha's Vineyard tomorrow afternoon.

3/29/01 - Practice today became a catch all, we managed some more house cleaning, a brief lecture on the good and bad from yesterdays defeat of Barnstable and a three boat practice drill on light air roll tacking and jibing were the order of the day. What did we learn?: the crew can hold the slot open in light air for more power. This means "barber hauling" the jib lead with the hand; while roll-jibing the crew stays on the gunwale until the last possible moment while the skipper powers-up main on the pop; while roll-tacking release the jib on the last possible moment as the boat reaches irons going into the eye of the wind, and the crew stays until the tack is complete and then moves to the opposite side quickly with the "pop". Jesse Mongeau gave a model crew performance with Shawna showing us all how it is done, just right. Speaking of performers, Tom Leach had to leave early to get ready as a participant in the "Mr. Harwich" talent contest at school tonight. No race or practice Friday.

3/28/01 - Harwich 3, Barnstable 0
PLEASANT BAY - Harwich Sailed past nationally ranked Barnstable in a resounding season-opener 3-0 victory. Jaime Scarbrough/Bryan Knowles pulled off three bullets starting from the committee boat favored end while Neal Donovan and Gina Legge managed the middle and Tommy Leach and Scott Penfield controled the Raiders from the leeward pin end. The Rough Riders developed some sweet combinations at 1-2-4, 1-3-5, 1-2-4 always controling their opponents. For Barnstable, the entrants were Anthony Mazzeo/Alyssa Ringler, Robert Carey/Kristen Hendrick, Sam Mazzeo/Clare O'Keeffe and LJ Gallagher/Meredith Butler. Shana O'Loughlin and Jim Adams also crewed for Harwich in the strong 42°F breeze gusting to 21 mph. "When the going gets tough the tough get going". Go Rough Riders!

3/27/01 - With a change in plans and a 4' snow fall last night and brisk NW wind at 4PM we canceled sailing to do some housekeeping instead in preparation for Barnstahble tommorrow which has been moved to CYC. We straightened out the clubhouse and made room upstairs for our meet with Barnstable Wednesday. Hoping we can do well against the team that went to the Nationals for the last two years.

3/26/01 - Nine students were enough to get four boats off and practicing today under cold overcast skies. This was our first team race practice as we prepare for Barnstable on Wednesday. The wind a 10 knot, easterly drove the team around the short course. Tom teamed with Scott; Bryan with Jaimie; Neil with ??; Jimmy with Jillian, for a 2 on 2 practice. John hopped in with Bridget by the last two races, her first time on in the 420 dinghy. Team looks good and fast and pass backs were working well.

3/21/01 - On the cusp of a northeaster we decide to hold practice with dark skys. With 15 knot winds, 43°F air out of the east four boats again made it out to the practice line for four heats. Tommy/Jillian, Neal/Scott, Shawna/Jim, Bryan/Jaime. All teams hiked heavily and managed squaring off on the speedy starting line. Tom and Jillian managed the first dunk of the season with Tommy managing a dry capsize. Jill said the water was brisk but readily popped back into the boat during the righting. Nice job for the first time 420 sailor. Neal and Jaime teams looked real fast and Julia also got her first taste of planing conditions in the last heat crewing for Coach Dickson. Shawna and Jimmy also looked like pros having both been out of the boats almost a year. We are very happy with the confidence and mutual support this team is showing in these early fleet racing trial. No practice tommorow.

3/20/01 - Unbelieveable, we have managed to keep up with our repair schedule completing all boats after school Monday and hauling back to Pleasant Bay on Tuesday. Five vessels and ten crew members were skipping over the water on the first day of Spring! Our first practice Wednesday. Steering and crewing were: Captain Tom Leach/Julia Julia Szendrei; Captain Jamie Scarbrough/Jim Adams; Neal Donovan/Jesse Mongeau; Shawna O'Loughlin /Regina Legge; Scott Penfield/Bryan Knowles. Also out for the first season are Jillian Shuttleworth and Bridget Sullivan. Boats appear to be tight and tracking well enough. We managed about 5-6 fleets races on the triangle. Water temp 41°F, air temp 46°F, 7 knots from the East.

3/14/01 - Almost every day, the boys have been working feverishly after school at the Harbormaster barn along with Coach Dickson to complete repairs on all eight 420's. If all goes well perhaps they can be ready to leave the shop by the end of next week. Basically the deck to hull seal on many of the boats has had to be reglued. The WEST system is working well and we are gelcoating all dings and scrapes. Sailing is never all play and no work! Oh yeah, time off on Thursday to catch some waves at Coast Guard Beach!

3/5/01 - Sailing team members and school chums mustered-up to save our fleet of 420's in the basement of CYC from the rising tide of a no-name noreaster. Coach Dickson knew that the 8 boats would have been crushed against the floor joice with the rising tide. At 11 AM on Monday's snow-day, Tommy Leach, Jamie Scarbrough, Neal Donovan, Ben Bachert, Bryan Knowles, Andy Simons, Scott Penfield, Nick Harwood, Keith Ripa carried the boats up the hill and loaded them to take over to the safety of the Harbormasters Barn. The high school students will be doing some pre-season maintenance on the boats after school over the next weeks.